COMMON drugs used by millions of Britons every day to treat insomnia and anxiety can dramatically increase the risk of dementia, scientists believe.

Older people were warned taking certain tranquilisers are more vulnerable to brain disease []

They warned that older people who regularly take prescription-only benzodiazepines used in tranquillisers such as Valium and temazepam are more vulnerable to developing the brain disease.

Research found the risk of developing dementia within 15 years was increased by 50 per cent.

The drugs are widely prescribed for the over-65s, with more than 11 million prescriptions dished out each year. There are at least 1.5 million long-term users in Britain, despite guidelines suggesting use should be limited to a few weeks.

“Considering the number of potential adverse effects, indiscriminate and widespread use should be cautioned against,” said the scientists from the University of Bordeaux whose report, following a 20-year study of 1,000 elderly people in France, is published on bmj.com.

They said that doctors should assess the expected benefits of prescribing the drugs and limit prescriptions to just a few weeks.

Considering the number of potential adverse effects, indiscriminate and widespread use should be cautioned against

Scientists

Dr Eric Karran, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said more research is needed.

It could be that underlying conditions that drive someone to the drugs are the real risk factor.